STory Club ColumbusAbout us

We give you a mic and 8 minutes. You tell us a story.

"More stripped-down than spoken word, more intimate than a reading, less frantic than stand-up, less showy than theater, [live lit is] essentially a reader and a mike and a room full of people. Live lit is verbal seduction, polemic, rhythm and lyric, bedtime story, bombast, and lament all at once.” - ​Chicago Reader

What is Story Club?

﻿Story Club is a nonfiction storytelling show. The goal of Story Club is to mix the spontaneity of an open mic with the experience of live theater. Each show has both open mic and featured performers.

Who can read at Story Club?

Anyone. We have at least three open mic slots at each show (more if time allows). Open mic participants sign up before the show and and are chosen randomly during the show. There is a timer on stage with the performer, counting down. Once the timer goes off, the story is over. Story Club loves having new storytellers on stage. We encourage everyone to sign up and show off what they've got!

What kinds of stories are told at Story Club?

Story Club is a forum for nonfiction stories. Each performer has 8 minutes to do their thing (about 1300 words). Stories can be read or memorized, and can incorporate that evening's theme or not. The best stories quickly tell us where the story is taking place, who it involves, and what's at stake. If you're uncertain if your work is appropriate, we recommend reading a couple stories from Story Club Magazine. ​

What if I've never performed before?

Then we love you the most. We pride ourselves in being a venue that many writers use as their first performance space. You will get a microphone, a music stand for your pages, a stool (if you want to sit), and a timer. You will also get one of the most attentive, welcoming audiences in Columbus.

Who are the "featured performers"?

Featured performances are curated for each show by the Story Club production team. Featured performers write towards that month's theme, provide drafts of their stories, work with our producers to refine their tales, and are paid based on the audience donations from the evening. Want to be a featured performer? We're always looking for intriguing nonfiction stories to bring to our stage. There are only two steps required to becoming a featured performer: (1) Attend a Story Club show. (2) Email a nonfiction story to MerylWilliamsMedia@gmail.com.

Why do you have a suggested $10 donation?

We strongly believe that art should be accessible and that artists should be paid. We have a $10 suggested donation to help us cover our production costs for each show, and to allow us to pay our featured performers for their time and talent. The donation is suggested because we want the show to be available to people at all income levels. If you want to give $1, we'll take it. If you want to give $50, you're very attractive. If you don't have two coins to rub together, that's cool too - we want everyone who wants to be at our show to be able to come to our show.

How do I get published in Story Club Magazine?

In February 2014 we started Story Club Magazine, the first literary journal for literary performance. Some truly fantastic talent has stepped on our stage over the years and we wanted a chance to share their stories with the world.

In order to be published in Story Club Magazine you can either: (1) win the audience vote at Story Club Columbus or (2) submit a story you've performed. Submissions should be less than 2,000 words, true stories, and emailed to submissions@storyclubmagazine.com.

Can I start a Story Club in my area? ​

We currently have six shows in fivecities and we're always looking to start more. Start a Story Club in your own city by emailing dana@storyclubcleveland.com and letting us know you're interested. We're always looking for more ways to bring the live lit experience to new audiences.